First Move Advantage
Dragonstone is the ancestral home of the Targaryen.
She is also known as the daughter furthest from Valyria.
The Targaryen came from a powerful nation— Valyria.
The Valyrian steel sword, coveted by the Seven Kingdoms and even the Free Cities, is a product of the Valyrian Freehold.
Before the Doom of Valyria, there was a House Targaryen woman Daenys.
She dreamt of Valyria's horrific apocalypse.
Her father, Aenar, believed his daughter's "prophetic dream" and moved the family to Dragonstone.
The House Targaryen's choice was naturally ridiculed by other House Targaryen, but time has given a fair answer.
Sure enough, not long after, Valyria was destroyed in a terrible catastrophe, and even the subcontinental peninsula on which Valyria was located was torn apart in that cataclysmic disaster.
Aenar's daughter was also known as "Dreamwalker" Daenys.
House Targaryen became the only surviving of the forty House Targaryen of Valyria, and lived on Dragonstone for a century.
A century later, Aegon the Conqueror landed in Westeros, and the War of Conquest began.
During the Targaryen' most powerful era, this place was home to many dragons and wild dragons.
After the fall of the Targaryen Dynasty, Dragonstone was granted to Stannis by Robert. Besides the dragons, the most unique feature of Dragonstone is its distinctive fortress.
Most of those fortresses were built in the shape of dragons.
In addition, Dragonstone is often shrouded in fog, and the dragon-shaped statues and buildings appear and disappear in the mist, as if real dragons have been reincarnated.
By this time, a massive fleet had gathered on Dragonstone. Its masts stood tall, like long spears in a military formation.
Banners fluttered, and the nobles of Stormlands had pledged their allegiance to Stannis.
Davos, known as the "Onion Knight," was somewhat distracted as he looked at the massive fleet.
"Father."
A call pulled Davos from his thoughts. Davos turned around and saw his third son, Marcus.
By the grace of the gods, he, a smuggler, had seven strong boys born to his wife.
The first four were all adults, so Davos sent them all to join the fleet of his beloved Stannis.
"Father!" Davos smiled and asked, looking at his excited son, "How's the Fury?"
"It's much bigger than our Black Pearl."
The Fury was Stannis's flagship. It was on this very ship that he conquered Dragonstone and quelled King Balon's rebellion.
I believe that this time, the Fury will also bring him victory and the throne.
Marcus is now serving as the "Oarsman" on the Fury.
"Such a massive fleet is beyond the power of even a storm."
"Hmph."
Davos smiled smugly. Yes, just looking at this fleet from afar, he could feel his own insignificance.
"No! A storm!"
Davos suddenly remembered that the Targaryen still had a powerful fleet when they were about to be overthrown.
But it was a storm that destroyed it in the harbor, and it was because of this that Stannis was able to successfully conquer Dragonstone. Could the Lannister possibly summon storms?
"No, it is Stannis who possesses the blood of the Storm King."
But what if there's a trap?
Davos remained uneasy, so he decided to go and talk to the fleet commander, Lord Imry.
However, the other party might not listen to his advice. Imry is Stannis's brother-in-law, that is, his brother-in-law.
They probably look down on themselves as nobles who rose to prominence by smuggling onions.
But Davos was determined to give it a try, all for the sake of his king, Stannis!
A wolf with nearly pure white fur and a shoulder height approaching an adult's waist came to a high place, raised its long snout, and sniffed the air with its wet nose, as if searching for the traces of prey.
Behind the giant wolf, an army was rapidly advancing south along the Kingsroad, closing in on King's Landing.
No one noticed them anymore; no one knew them.
They were like a pack of wolves lurking in the night.
It was the army Jon brought from Harrenhal.
And that wolf was none other than Ghost.
They were about three or four days' journey from King's Landing.
It's a pity that most of Jon's minions are infantry, otherwise they could have been even faster.
In addition, some basic siege equipment could not be left behind, which slowed things down.
Fortunately, according to the news brought back by Raven Jon, Dragonstone was still preparing.
I'll still be able to launch an attack together with Stannis.
At this moment, Beric Dondarrion approached him and said, "Jon, we're almost at Sow's Horn. House Hogg territory lies ahead. I think we should let the soldiers rest. More than two hundred have fallen behind."
When Beric Dondarrion spoke to Jon, his tone was suggestive and respectful, and he even leaned forward slightly.
The reason is simple: the decisiveness, or rather ruthlessness, of this young man has proven that he is no ordinary person.
The Harrenhal mutiny was swift and decisive, and the house arrest of Roose Bolton was carried out without hesitation.
Even his oath before the lords of the North.
He truly disregarded his own life and future, single-mindedly focused on avenging Eddard.
"Very well, Sir, you can arrange for the soldiers to rest here until tomorrow morning, and at the same time, ensure that the enemy blocks news of our main force. I will take the cavalry to attack Rosby first."
"Rosby?"
Beric Dondarrion was somewhat puzzled. They could now travel directly to Kingsroad along King's Landing Road, while Rosby, although also very close to King's Landing —only a day's journey away—required a detour.
"Jon, the lord of Rosby is Gyles, and he's so old he can barely walk; even escaping would be difficult for him."
Beric Dondarrion's implication was that Rosby, Jon had no reason to waste his valuable troops there.
But Jon had a compelling reason to go.
"What if Tommen and Myrcella were there?"
"What!"
Beric Dondarrion gasped, as if a bolt of lightning had struck his brain.
Yes, Tommen and Myrcella are indeed very likely in Rosby.
As King and Queen Mother respectively, Joffrey and Cersei naturally could not leave King's Landing.
But Tommen and Myrcella must be sent out of King's Landing. Once King's Landing falls, at least Tommen can still raise Robert's banner.
A little thought reveals that they seem to have no choice but to stay in Rosby.
After all, Stannis had already blockaded the coast, Cersei with few options.
Beric Dondarrion secretly sized up Jon from head to toe, and unconsciously took a half-step back.
This young man is incredibly intelligent and has a very meticulous mind.
Such a person can only be a friend. It would be unwise to make them an enemy.
Soon, Jon, along with Haken and Tommen, led over four hundred cavalrymen straight to Rosby.
Of course, Ghost was leading the way.
Tommen and Myrcella are like "future troubles".
Even if we capture them, it might not help our current siege.
But they are key to Jon's plan.
Only by controlling the siblings can the alliance House Tyrell and Lannister be dismantled after Joffrey is killed.
Even if the core principle of House Tyrell is that they only care about being queens and not who the king is, the Lannister still need to produce a king.
In this battle, I must not only conquer King's Landing.
More importantly, it's about dismantling the "Lion-Flower Alliance".
That is the ultimate goal.